REVIEW: ‘Marriagetoxin’ Episode 6 — “Together With Me”

Marriagetoxin Episode 6 features more goofy hijinks, character development, and showcases some of the anime’s best animation thus far. While the episode features some questionable narrative aspects, it remains engaging throughout.

Marriagetoxin Episode 6 continues where the previous episode left off with Naruko and Hikaru (Haruki Ishiya) wacky fight. While the episode begins with Naruko pulling out a violin seemingly to use it to fight, it turns out it was a trick: he just chucks the instrument at Hikaru and takes off. While evading Hikaru, Naruko suggests that Hikaru is doing  Shiori (Asaki Yuikawa) a disservice by allowing her to fight against her fate, as he believes she’s weak. Hikaru retorts that she is far from weak, given her recent actions and her overall potential.

The scene starts off in a goofy manner similar to previous episodes and provides a few good laughs. It also provides a glimpse at Naruko’s past trauma through a flashback showing a dead loved one who he believed was weak. Though Naruko’s past isn’t as thoroughly explored as other characters’, the scene does a decent job of explaining his ideology without derailing the episode, even though it’s only brought up in this episode.

So far, Naruko is the weirdest character in the anime.

While running, Naruko encounters a well of Phytoncides, a chemical compound exuded by trees in a forest with natural healing effects. While initially elated at the discovery, as he would have used it to turn the tide of the fight, things change quickly when he discovers that the well was actually just a mix of toxins set as a trap by Hikaru. This temporarily stunned him just enough for Hikaru to get close enough to knock him out.

While this scene provided yet another disappointingly short fight, the animation in the final part of the fight between the two is among the best in the series thus far. It also adds more layers to how the powers work in this series, as it explains how all masters have limits to their abilities.

Naruko cannot use his powers for long without healing, just as Hikaru cuts down his life span every time he uses toxins to enhance his abilities. It also adds more goofy antics and shows cartoonish facial expressions and motions from Naruko, who, so far, is the weirdest character in the anime.

Marriagetoxin Episode 6 has impeccable animation and composition from studio bones.

After defeating Naruko, the episode shifts back to Shiori as she tries to evade her mind-controlled classmates. After failing to get her, they try to use another student for the sacrifice, but Shiori, feeling guilty, stops them. She and Hikaru come up with a plan to trick the students into believing she defeated Lord Chladni with magic. This prompts a short but visually striking scene where they both blow up Naruko’s last summoned golem in a flashy manner.

The scene showcases impeccable animation and composition from studio bones. It also shows Shiori’s character progression from a timid young girl who was a pushover to someone who’s surprisingly brave despite constantly being in danger, who acts on their strong sense of morality.

She notably accomplishes something that characters in most anime take a while to do in only a few episodes, which makes her development feel rushed and forced. However, given that this is a shonen anime with short arcs, it isn’t surprising.

The episode cuts back to Naruko, who is contemplating his defeat and Hikaru’s words. It also shows the rest of the flashback and how Naruko killed his own brother, which likely set him on the course to become the next Sound Master, but warping his principles in the process. The scene is shocking and emotional, especially from a seemingly shallow character like Naruko.

After some light-hearted scenes with the group celebrating their victory, Shiori returns to her aunt, who’s furious that Naruko failed his job. However, despite several attempts on her life, Shiori forgives her aunt and asks her to help lead her dad’s company, which her aunt agrees to do. This resolution is incredibly unreasonable and unrealistic, and almost renders the entire point of protecting Shiori useless if she could’ve just allied with her aunt from the start. The fact that the two make amends, especially so quickly, feels like lazy writing.

The last segment of the episode shows a drinking party with Kinosaki (Shion Wakayama), Shiori, and Hikaru. Shiori and Hikaru bond by showing each other party and magic tricks, and they hit it off even more in the process. This leads them to get closer, and the touching scene shows the first time a girl seems fully interested in a romance with Hikaru. The episode ends with the two exchanging contact information and Hikaru revealing that the next episode will see him attending a friend’s wedding.

Overall, Marriagetoxin Episode 6 is another engaging episode that offers some good laughs, excellent animation, and emotionally striking moments. While some parts of the narrative leave much to be desired, it still succeeds in capturing the anime’s entertaining aspects.

Marriagetoxin Episode 6 is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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